Everybody Loves Skippack

Rick Sheppard

Published on June 6, 2017

Everybody Loves Skippack

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Skippack Village is a truly beautiful and unique area of the Philadelphia suburbs, to be sure. It is located in Montgomery County, PA, 25 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The Perkiomen Creek forms its natural western boundary and drains into the Schuylkill River. The township’s villages include Creamery, Lucon, Providence Square (also in Worcester Township,) and Skippack.

In its very early days, Skippack’s economy was primarily based on agriculture but today, along with some industrial businesses, the primary industry of Skippack village is tourism. During the week and on weekends the streets of Skippack are crowded with local residents and tourists visiting the many unique shops and restaurants, antique shops, art galleries, or just strolling along the village sidewalks. The town also offers year-round events and free concerts. A community theater, Playcrafters of Skippack, features productions year round. Local merchants and restaurants throughout the Skippack area have joined forces to create Skippack First Fridays to encourage the public to visit the Village of Skippack and enjoy its many wonders. The event is held every First Friday for the months of April through October, as well as at various dates and locations throughout the year. Activities include food tasting, live music, exhibiting artists and entertainment for the whole family.

Shopping outside the Skippack

Other shopping, dining and entertainment options include the King of Prussia Mall, the Coventry Mall, the Montgomeryville Mall, and the relatively new Providence Town Center – all within a 25 minute drive. There’s also the Limerick Outlets along Rt 422 in Limerick – just 15 minutes away. Outdoor attractions include township parks, the Montgomery County Park at Plank Road, the Perkiomen Trail and the Evansburg State Park, offering a variety of recreational opportunities including jogging, hunting, fishing, horseback riding and an 18 hole golf course.

Schools Around Skippack

Public school children in Skippack, Perkiomen Township and Schwenksville Borough attend the Perkiomen Valley School District. Perkiomen Valley High School ranked #16 out of the 134 Montgomery, Bucks, Chester & Delaware High Schools in the 2016 SPP (School Performance Profile) provided by the Department of Education. Public school children in Lower Providence Township and Worcester Township attend Methacton School District and children in Lower Salford Township attend Souderton School District.

As for commuting to work, the Skippack area offers easy access to Rt 73, Rt 363, Rt 29, Rt 63 and Rt 113. And a 10 minute car ride will get you to Kulpsville, where you can pick up the Lansdale interchange of the PA turnpike.

How else do Skippack residents spend their time when not at school or work?

They can attend any one of a number of places of worship in and around Skippack, they can see a play at Playcrafters Theater (Skippack Village), they can volunteer to assist at the Daily Bread Community Food Pantry (Perkiomen Township), they can walk, jog or ride a bike on the Perkiomen Trail, they can fish, swim or boat in the Perkiomen Creek, or they can simply relax on their porch and enjoy the crisp, clean country air. Additional outdoor attractions include township parks, the Montgomery County Park at Plank Road, and the Evansburg State Park, offering a variety of recreational opportunities including jogging, hunting, fishing, horseback riding and an 18 hole golf course.

Brief History of Skippack

In 1683, German farmers began to immigrate to Philadelphia in large numbers and the city fathers told the newly arrived immigrants that they would have to settle 7 miles up the Schuylkill River in the area that is now known as Germantown. As the Germantown area became settled, later arrivals settled farther up the Schuylkill and continued up Perkiomen Creek and Skippack Creek to a point where travel by boat became impossible because of shallow water. This point is where Skippack Creek crosses Skippack Pike in Skippack Township. The area was originally named “Van Bebber’s Township” after Matthias Van Bebber, to whom the original land patent was issued in 1702 by William Penn. The name later changed to Schippach, named for a town in Germany, then renamed “Skippack and Perkiomen Township” until the township was split into two townships.

The Souderton, Skippack & Fairview Electric Railway Co. was formed in 1901 to provide trolley service from Norristown, through Trooper and Worcester to Souderton. Trolley service to Skippack began in 1908. In 1923, the company’s name changed to the Skippack & Perkiomen Transit Company. The “Wogglebug” trolleys ran on the south shoulder of Skippack Pike through the village (a sidewalk was on the north side). Buses replaced the trolleys in 1925 and in 1940, as automobiles became more common, the bus service ended.

Today, the area surrounding Skippack Village includes parts of Lower Salford Township, Lower Providence Township, Worcester Township, Perkiomen Township, Schwenksville Borough and all of Skippack Township. While some farmlands and woodlands still remain, growth and development in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s have brought many new homes and people to the area. The 2006 Skippack Township Municipal Directory lists the population as 9,920 (including 3,404 at Graterford Prison, which is located along Rt 73 between Skippack Township and Schwenksville Borough.) And the overall Skippack population was 13,715 at the 2010 census – representing a 110.5% increase from the 2000 count of 6,516 overall residents.

In summary, Skippack is a vibrant, bustling community filled with diverse people with diverse passions, hobbies, employment, and dreams.

Sounds like a great place to buy a home, don’t you think? Contact me today and let me show you why I loved growing up, raising my children and still live in the Skippack area. Request a list of all of the available homes for sale in Skippack right here.

"We have been more than happy every step of the way working with Rick to sell our house and buy our next. He is extremely knowledgeable and professional. I would consider him a man of integrity which extremely important when so much is at stake. Not only would we use him again if the occasion arises, but we have already recommended him to all of our friends." Josh Taylor, Feb. 2016